Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace enrollment

Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans available through HealthCare.gov is from November 1 to January 15. Keep your ARC care team by choosing from insurance plans we accept: Aetna, Ambetter, Blue Cross, Blue Advantage, MyBlue, Moda, Sendero, and UnitedHealthcare Exchange Plan.

All insurance plans accepted by ARC, including government plans, are listed online at ARCInsuranceInfo.com.

Medicare annual enrollment

Eligible U.S. residents can apply for and make changes to their Medicare plans from October 15 – December 7. Medicare is a health insurance plan for people ages 65 and up, or those with certain conditions or disabilities. It is important to know your options and pick a plan that lets you keep your ARC care team.

Medicare patients at ARC are 7.5% less likely to use the ER than other patients across the nation.

Tips for patients

ARC in-network with UHC

If you have received a letter from UnitedHealthcare (UHC) stating that any of the providers listed below are out-of-network, please be informed that refers to their former practice. The following physicians and APC remain in-network at ARC, and you may continue seeing them without any changes to your coverage:

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Physician Assistant

What is a physician assistant (PA)?

Physician Assistants (PAs) are skilled health care professionals who:

  • provide a broad range of health services, including taking medical histories, performing physical exams, making assessments and assisting in surgery, under the supervision of a physician.
  • help increase accessibility to high quality health care in rural and urban areas.
  • reduce health care costs by emphasizing preventive health care.
  • improve the continuity of patient care within the health care system.
  • prescribe medications in 33 states including Texas.

Education/Credentials

Physician Assistants are trained in programs at medical schools and universities affiliated with teaching hospitals accredited by the American Medical Association.

The curriculum consists of a basic medical sciences section which includes topics such as anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, physical diagnosis, biochemistry, and medical sciences. The clinical section consists of experiences in such areas as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, geriatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry and family practice.

Candidates for admission into physician assistant programs usually have at least two years of college, and more typically, baccalaureate degrees in pre-medical sciences as well as one or more years of direct patient care experience. A baccalaureate or Master's degree is awarded on graduation.

After graduation, physician assistants take a national certification exam administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners. Recertification occurs every two years with continuing medical education and every six years by reexamination.

Sources:
American Academy of Physician Associates